Sports Briefly

Published: Wednesday, March 17, 2010

HOUSTON

Former major league infielder, and Texas A&M Aggie, Chuck Knoblauch has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault on his common-law wife last year.

According to court records, Knoblauch entered his plea Tuesday in exchange for deferred-adjudication probation. Successful completion of his one-year probation could mean the conviction on the assault of a family member would be expunged from the record.

According to a criminal complaint, Knoblauch's wife told police he hit her in the face and choked her at their Houston home in September.

The 41-year-old Houston native played for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals from 1991-2002. In 12 seasons, the 1991 American League Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Star batted .289 with 98 home runs and 615 RBI.

SUNRISE, Fla.

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was surprised and says he was "disappointed" by the NHL's decision to suspend him for his hit on Chicago's Brian Campbell.

The two-time MVP on Tuesday answered just three questions for reporters in Sunrise, where the Capitals faced the Florida Panthers. Ovechkin says he was sorry that Campbell was injured in the hit, which he said he thought was "just a little push."

Ovechkin drove Campbell into the boards from behind in the first period Sunday and received a major penalty and a game misconduct. Campbell, a key defenseman for the Blackhawks, is out with what the team is calling an upper-body injury.

Ovechkin will miss games Tuesday at Florida and Thursday at Carolina. He can return Saturday at Tampa Bay.

BOISE, Idaho

A Boise State football player who was suspended from the team earlier this month has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery.

Boise police arrested 21-year-old Jason Robinson on Monday on a warrant accusing him of causing bodily harm, permanent disability or permanent disfigurement to another person.

Ada County sheriff's spokeswoman Andrea Dearden said Robinson posted a $5,000 bond and was released Monday. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Few other details of the alleged assault were available Tuesday.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen suspended Robinson from the team last week for violating team rules.

WASHINGTON

Washington Wizards forward Josh Howard could miss the start of next season after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.

Howard's operation was Tuesday in New York, and the Wizards said he is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight months.

Howard was injured in a game against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 22, when he collided with an opponent. That was only his fourth game with Washington after coming over in a seven-player trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 13.

He had operations on his left ankle and left wrist last offseason. Howard was an All-Star in 2007, when he averaged 18.9 points in 70 games. He had his best season a year later, when he averaged 19.9 points.

OKLAHOMA CITY

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed former Arizona guard Mustafa Shakur to a 10-day contract.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the deal on Tuesday. Shakur is being called up from the Thunder's NBA Development League affiliate in Tulsa, where he was averaging 20.7 points and 7.2 assists per game.

Shakur went undrafted out of Arizona in 2007 and played overseas in Poland, Spain and Greece in recent years.